Original subtitles

- Lucille's? - Alright pop, today's huge for us okay.

I finally got the meeting with Dr. Davis from the BSBA.

- Good! Now what it is it that you need for me to do?

- I gave you an entire list of things to do, where is it?

- Oh, I ran out of toilet paper in the bathroom so-- Just saying.

- You know what, how 'bout this,

just run down to Quickie-Prints, grab my charts. Can you handle that?

- Oh, I can handle...

Again, what is Quickie-Prints?

- You know what, never mind. I got it.

- No, no, no, son, son I got it.

I know how important the BBL is to you--

- It's the BSBA pop.

The Black Small Business Association.

Only Chicago's elite business owners become members,

once they get the grant.

Once you in, you get access to the resources, networks,

it's like having the keys to the city.

- So the plan, is to get the grant first

and then apply for the membership.

Got it. Quickie-Prints for the BBS it is.

- Don't hurt yourself pop. Don't hurt yourself.

- Oh my God, I have good news.

We are officially sold out for tonight's play.

I cannot believe Kimberly got the Ivory Hill to host our opening night,

cast Jordan, and got AJ to do the costume design.

That girl's a genius. I mean how many asses did she have to kiss to get that?

[Alfonso] Uh, uh, none.

Okay, she donated the event space and got us a tax write-off.

- God, she's so smart. Don't know how she said "I do" to you.

- Hey. - Hey baby, where you been?

- I had to pick up Jordan's costume from the cleaners.

Oh she's gon' look so adorable playing the role of Princess Zuri.

Now wait until I tell the Moms Who Leisure Association

that the Ivory Hill handpicked my baby to star

in her play, "Dare to Dream."

- Uh, the moms who what association? - [Kimberly] Leisure.

We basically drink wine and brag about our kids.

- They basically just drink wine. - Stop.

- Oh my God y'all, the set looks amazing.

And where's auntie's little princess?

- Here she is. - I'm ready for my close up.

- Yes niece-y, work it. [Lucille] That's right.

Auntie's future EGOT.

And I have no idea what that even means.

- Okay now, remember Princess Zuri,

be always kind to your fans and don't let them get too close okay.

'Cause you're a star now, and stars are always a little out of reach.

- So, does that mean I don't have to go to school anymore?

- No, that means if you become a star, daddy don't gotta come to work no more.

- Lazy.

Okay, let's take some pictures.

- All hail the queen.

All hail the queen-- no, that's not quite it.

Ouch! AJ, that hurt.

- Girl, you are just tender-skinned. Beauty hurts.

- Good job Jordan!

Now just make sure you hit your mark, and cross stage left,

yes?

Come, come.

- Did you see the way my baby gracefully glided

towards her mark?

- Yup. Like she's in a Spike Lee joint or something.

- You go girl! - Hold your chest up baby, hold it up.

- Ha-ha! I am familiar with you.

But I am going to assume you are family too.

- Oh, yes, I am Princess Zuri's auntie.

It is such a pleasure to finally meet you.

- Of course you are. [Chuckles]

Listen... the Ivory Hill,

usually demands a closed set.

But since we are in a donated space,

I guess you can stay.

But you are to be seen,

and not heard, thank you!

- Now step aside! - Oh, okay.

- You two need to go sit down somewhere before you ruin this for this little girl.

Don't let me have to get my switch out now, ya' hear?

- Can I please have Princess Zora to the stage?

- Does this costume work better for you?

- Glorious. Just glorious AJ.

I love the colors. But I digress.

Princess Zora, this is the moment

where you renounce the throne and pursue your music.

It's your one last chance

to tell the King and the Queen.

So make it heartfelt, yes?

And enunciate, go!

(singing) * I have a melody

* In my heart to sing * But dare I dream

* My responsibility

* Is the crown I wear * And now you see

* But what about * What I'm feeling

* My thoughts, my dreams, my goals

* Will they see

* I dare to dream

[Cheering] [Applause]

- Brilliant! Just brilliant!

My dear, you are going places.

Now everyone, we're gonna take a five.

And let AJ do a once over on our costumes, yes?

- Come, come.

- Smile, you did great. - You did so good.

- There is no way

I'm gonna let you upstage me.

- Oo! I blame the both of ya'll

for creating a baby Strange.

More drama in here than "The Real Housewives."

- Dr. Davis, thank you so much for taking this time to meet with me today.

As a proud Black-owned family business,

receiving this grant will allow our business to expand

and foster relationships with other prominent business owners in the BSBA.

How's that sound?

- Mia! How's that sound? - Hmm?

- Mm, I don't know what you're talking about.

But I mean I guess it sound alright, I'd give you the money or whatever.

- How can you understand anything I'm saying with all that, [Mock Smacking]

smacking at the mouth. You sound like Aunt Lucille when she take her teeth out.

- I heard that.

How's the speech going?

It's, it's coming.

- You okay?

- I'm a little nervous, not gon' lie.

- And a little ugly.

Okay look, I'ma go see if the Ivory Hill

wanna sign these playbills from her last shows.

Make me a little money since I work here for free.

- Yeah, you go do that SW3.

- Can I give you some old school advice?

- I feel like you gon' give it to me anyway. - You know I am.

But you need it.

Sometimes being heavy on the numbers,

and light on the authenticity

can rub people the wrong way.

Just be yourself baby.

- Oh, auntie, I know that's how you did it back in your day

when you was running with Jesus,

but uh, this is modern-day corporate America here, okay.

It's all about where the money resides.

- Hey! - Pop! Right on time.

We'll go over these charts before Dr. Davis arrives.

- Hey, hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Let me just put it up on the easel son.

- Lucille! - Yes, Henry.

- Hey, I found out what BBL is.

And I know a couple of people who can use one.

- I'ma BB-bust your ass.

Listen, at least we can show some hospitality.

Why don't we have Kimberly put out some of her homemade muffins.

- No, no, no, not Kimberly.

- Oh come one now, you know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

- That's a woman's heart auntie. Dr. Davis is a she.

- Well she, he, they, whatever the pronoun is.

All people respond to emotion.

And what better way to pull on those emotions

than to include the whole family in the presentation.

- Oh hell no.

Auntie--guys, this is a serious meeting.

Let me use my 20 years of finance to take this family business to the next level.

Sheesh!

- Let's take it from the top.

Jordan, make sure you do your dance choreography on your mark

and not to upstage Princess Zora,

like you've been doing.

AJ, chop chop, cue my music.

[Low Rhythmic Beat]

Oh, oh! Hold it right there.

Okay, Jordan you cannot be in Tamika's way.

Okay, so let's start from the top.

- Take it away. - Okay baby.

You got this.

[Low Rhythmic Beat]

Jazz hands. Yes, that's it!

- Oh, God.

- Oh, great job Ivory.

Ah! Ivory Hill--the Ivory Hill.

And uh, you were saying?

- Oh, I was just gonna say you are killing it.

However, I do have a few notes. Just a few.

- So I just-- - And, what stage-mom advice

do you have for me Kimbella? - It's Kimberly.

So I was just thinking,

what if Jordan was the only princess on the stage

in this scene? I mean I'm no award-winning director, but--

- Kelly! Kelly, Kelly... - Again, it's Kimberly.

- That's what I said. And like you said,

you're not the Ivory Hill.

So can you please take several seats?

Or just pick one.

- Oh, I was just tryna help.

- Okay, okay, come here.

If I were to get in a fight with a bear,

help the bear.

- Understood? - Yeah, okay.

Apalonia!

- Please exit my stage. - Okay, okay.

Just remember, when you do that, extend your arms like a bird.

Okay, yes! And then just--

- Ashanti! - Own it, okay?

- Poof, be gone! Thank you.

Now Jordan, please disregard that,

because Princess Zuri is not a bird.

Now Jordan step aside,

and let the Ivory Hill

show you once more.

Cue my music AJ.

AJ play my damn music, boy!

- Yes, yes, sorry.

Yeah.

[Rhythmic Beat]

- And then you lay out.

And you hitch, and you--

Oh no no, oh!

Oh hell no, y'all. I done sprained my ankle.

Oh, whoa!

(in casual slang) Okay. Oh it's swelling up like I got cankles y'all.

It's getting fat.

[Exasperated Noises]

(dramatically) I mean, I am ruined.

Oh Lord, I am ruined.

It's curtains for me! Where will I go?

Call the ambulance. Call it.

- Let's get some water. We'll get some water.

- Oh, did the cameras get any of this?

Who's phone do I need to confiscate?

- The show must go on.

The Ivory Hill has never missed a performance in her entire career.

- What are we gonna do now?

Who's gonna direct the play?

- Aaliyah! Why don't you direct it? - Oh, yes.

- No, no, no, mm-mm.

- No, no, come on now. You're the creative one.

And didn't you take some theatre classes?

- Yep. - Babygirl, show business is in your blood.

- No dad, I only took 12 hours of theatre in college

and I spent most of that time trying not to trip over props.

Y'all know I'm clumsy.

- Aaliyah, do it for Jordan.

You got this, come on.

- Will somebody get me off this dusty floor?

My elephantiasis is showing.

- Let's uh, okay be careful. Breath.

- Don't touch me Courtney!

- Kimberly.

- Alright, I mean, it's just kids right? How hard can it be?

- I can do this. - Of course you can.

- Aaliyah! - Aaliyah! [Chant Starts]

[Chanting "Aaliyah"]

- Alright, alright, alright, everybody back to work.

One, two, three. To your audience.

Yes. Turn in your place. Turn in your--okay. Oh!

One, two, three--

- I don't think you know what you're doing.

- Is it that obvious?

- You do realize we're not playing the same role, right?

I'm not your competition Jordan.

- Jordan, what is wrong with you?

- What did I do?

- I been watching you,

and you been treating that girl real ugly all day.

Now you better than to treat people that way.

- But she was trying to upstage me.

- Jordan, this is not a competition.

It's a play.

- Well she needs to go play somewhere else.

- Jordan!

You supposed to be working together, not against each other.

- I understand, auntie.

- Listen to me.

Jealousy is a ugly, ugly trait.

And you too beautiful to be jealous.

There's enough light to shine on everyone.

- You're right auntie, I am too beautiful.

- Is that what she just got out of what I said?

God, I know we're living in Chicago,

but she sure has gone Hollywood.

I'ma go snatch that little crown.

- You the man. You got this, just relax okay.

- Warming up. - I think the boy done lost his mind.

- Son, son, son, son.

You're overthinking it, son.

- This is what you do. - This is what I do.

- Just keep your head in the game, stay focused.

- Laser focused. - You got this.

- You got this, and remember what I said.

Sometimes it's not all about what's going on in here,

but what's going on in here. Just speak from your heart baby.

- Oh! - Hello.

- Dr. Davis, it's a pleasure to meet me, I mean, meet you.

Chair, chair. Have a seat, have a seat.

- Thank you. -Uh, uh... - Are you a real doctor?

I mean 'cause, you got my heart beating so fast I,

may need mouth to mouth resuscitation.

You know, I used to take care

of James Brown, you know, right before his performance.

Laying his edges back and,

even Rick-- - Ah, ah, ah! Henry come on over here for a second.

- Okay, can we move along with the presentation?

- I have a meeting to get to. - Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

So we're gonna start with this chart here.

Uh, where's the chart? It's coming right up.

Here so, you know, I worked hard on this.

So here we have, uh...

[Stuttering]

We're gonna go ahead and come back to this one, okay.

What we're gonna--

- Guys, guys quiet! Quiet on set please!

Quiet on set!

Quiet on set, please! Quiet on set!

Quiet on set, please!

- Ah, so I have these five year projections here,

Five year projection part,

oh my Gosh.

I am, I'm sorry.

This is not going how I planned. I had a whole, elaborate,

presentation for you to show, you know,

how this grant could really help our family and I'm tanking.

- Okay look, Alfonso, we're not looking for perfection.

Alright? If you were perfect you wouldn't need the grant.

- Right, right. - We are looking for people who want to make change in their community and,

they just need a little bit of help.

- That's, that's us. - That's you, yes, so,

maybe once you have your presentation together,

I can come back and we'll review it.

- I'm so sorry to interrupt,

but we could use a little help out there.

- Uh, what's going on baby?

- Let's just say Aaliyah and a group of child actors don't mix.

- Oh Lord, come on y'all.

- Would you just, give me just one moment? - Sure.

- Uh, I apologize on behalf of my family Dr. Davis.

You know we're, we're having the Ivory Hill play here tonight

and so let's just say that the drama

didn't remain onstage.

- The Ivory Hill?

(poshly) The Ivory Hill.

Oh my God, I am such a huge fan.

Do you think, do you think I could actually um, I could meet her?

- Well uh, what's it worth to you?

I'm just kidding. Just kidding.

Right this way.

- Thank you.

[Overlapping Screams]

- Aaliyah, I don't think they listening to you. - You don't say?

- Maybe we should do a timeout. Time them out.

[Whistle]

- Sit, down, now!

Now I know a lot of your parents.

And I don't think they'd be pleased to hear how you been disrespecting Ms. Aaliyah.

- Do I need to call your momma? - No.

- Alright. Now your families

and the community are going to be here in less than two hours

to see this wonderful play you guys have been working on.

Don't you wanna make 'em proud?

Alright then.

Let's pull our acts together now, okay?

So we can show 'em what we got.

- Alright? -[Alfonso] Gotta show 'em.

- Okay uh, dare to dream on three.

One, two, three,

[ALL] Dare to dream!

[Laughing]

- Thank you, auntie.

- Oh that was nothing nephew.

You know these days you gotta show these kids

the difference between that "jolly-good-time" face,

and that "oh-I-wish-you-would" face.

You gotta identify with these children as a threat.

- That's what I do. - They don't want no smoke.

- Know they don't want no smoke. - I know that's right.

- Well, since we have time,

can I buy you a juice box? - I'd like that.

- So although the queen has requested my undivided attention in the castle,

the music notes invading my dreams as I slumber will not stop calling me.

And thus, I might follow my dreams,

or I will always allow others to define

who I am. [Applause]

[Cheering] - That was amazing!

- In the standout roles of Princess Zuri and Princess Zora,

Jordan Williams and Tamika Davis.

[Cheering] - Amazing!

- I'm sorry for trying to upstage you.

- It's okay. We're all on the same team.

- You were great. - We were great.

[Awing and Applause]

- And of course, you can't forget your director.

[Crowd Chants "Aaliyah"]

- Oh, hell no!

Hello everyone. [Cackles]

Ivory Hill. The Ivory Hill.

I know you've been waiting. Excuse me, excuse me sir. [Alfonso] Ow!

- Excuse me. - (whispering) I'm pressing charges.

- Excuse me, excuse me.

Hello everyone.

Thank you so much for coming.

This was a labor of love of mine.

And uh, even in my life-threatening condition,

I was able to put this whole stage play together in my sleep.

And I just want to thank all the little people...

and me, Ivory Hill.

The Ivory Hill.

- Thank you for coming. - Oh, I'ma get her. I'ma get her.

- Au revoir Alopecia. Au revoir. - Wait a minute.

- Hey, listen, with the way you left out on me for your family- - Okay, okay, Dr.Davis.

- Yes? - Before you officially,

turn down our grant, I just wanna say we are so much more than what you've seen here.

We're just a family, tryna run a business

that's been a part of our legacy for generations.

- Are you finished?

- Yeah. - Good.

Tonight showed me that not only do you have heart,

but you have fearless integrity to go with it.

And because of that I am willing to come back

and hear more about you Arts Initiative Program.

Mhm.

- Dr. Davis. Dr. Davis, I am, I am just overwhelmed. - Oh.

- I am overwhelmed. So unexpected! - Yes, well I see that, yes.

- So unexpected.

- Oh, well you know, I too work with members of my family--

- Oh so you know. - Oh, I can relate.

But yeah, it may not be easy,

but it's gratifying.

- Mm good. Feels good.

- So, I'll see you soon? - Yes you will.

- Okay. - Aye, watch out for my daddy, he's a little thirsty.

- Thirsty. He offered me a juice box. - Yeah, yeah.

"And although the Ivory Hill

"was the creator of 'Dare to Dream,' it was the Williams family that shined"

come on now. Is that good publicity or what?

Y'all wanna know what's really great?

After "Theaters R' Us" heard about our Arts Initiative Program,

they cut us a check for $25,000.

- Baby! - I could finally get paid. [Cheering]

- Big bro, you know the event space could use some new shoes-- I mean flooring.

- And I could use a new cardigan.

- Ah, that's nice. Aye, aye, quit playing.

- You know I'm the faster twin.

[Overlapped Hollering]

- I love you, gotta go.

- Lord, this family.